1. How many 744Fs do they have on order (and options)?
2. Are the freighters directly purchased from Boeing or leased?
3. What routes will they use the aircraft on?
4. What is JAL Cargo's current fleet size?

1. How many 744Fs do they have on order (and options)?
2. Are the freighters directly purchased from Boeing or leased?
3. What routes will they use the aircraft on?
4. What is JAL Cargo's current fleet size?

This will answer three of your four questions, and is from JAL's web site:

"JAL currently owns 10 freighters (all B747F's), and will increase this to 13 by the end of FY2006 (5 B744F's and 8 B747F's) in order to expand transport capacity and accurately meet the growing demand for air transport."

I wonder which two classics they're planning to retire. I'm curious because they currently operate two of the oldest 747's in the world, which were originally delivered to Pan Am as part of the 747 launch order (originally passenger aircraft). I have a feeling those are the ones being retired, and it will be a shame to see them go.

Note that 3 of the 5 744Fs planned for year-end 2006 are 744SFs and not additional new ones although I expect JAL to order some more factory-new Freighters midterm.

Note also that the 2 ex-Pan Am aircraft are not as old as you wrote. they were not part of the "original" order delivered 1970-72. The two 747-221Fs were built in the late 70s. They should be good for 5 years more service.

The silver freighters look stunning indeed. Better than JAL pax-aircraft. They remind me of the gorgeously looking Northwest Freighters in their simple original livery from the mid-70s. Silver and red goes perfectly together.

The above picture is kinda cool to see. This is probably the a/c I saw parked outside the Boeing factory finishing/delivery area when I was there to take the factory tour in late August. There was another 744F also for JAL at the last stop inside the main production building when I took the tour. 2 other 747's in the assembly/manufacturing process were for a Chinese airline.